Chapter 9

PS: First update is here, please add to your collection and give me a recommendation! A new week, let's start climbing the charts. Book friends, cast your votes!

In Shengjing City, the gunfire from last night seemed to have had little impact on the residents. In fact, the gunfire was very brief, and the main battle areas were around the Shengjing General's Office, causing no harm to civilians.

After dawn, the battle areas had already been cleared, the bodies removed, and the bloodstains washed away. If it weren't for the lingering scent of blood in the air, no one would have known that a fierce battle had taken place there last night.

For ordinary people, the power struggles among officials had no real impact on their lives. They cared about their own daily existence. Of course, many officials knew more. However, early in the morning, Ma Tengxi, Wu Xingquan, Feng Lingge, and Zhang Yuting jointly summoned all the officials in Shengjing City and the entire Fengtian Province, directly explaining what had happened.

Upon learning that the entire Shengjing City and the entire Fengtian Province were already under control, and that Zhao Erlxun had been taken to Yanjing City, and that Yuan Shikai's appointment letter was about to be issued, these officials, big and small, accepted the reality. Although there were officials loyal to the Qing Dynasty, they couldn't resist the power of the military. No one wanted to offend these men with military power.

After all, most of the four men, Ma, Wu, Feng, and Zhang, were bandits by origin, and they were ruthless in killing. No one wanted to lose their life for nothing.

Because of these reasons, Shengjing City and Fengtian Province were not greatly affected. Of course, the Japanese in Shengjing City were somewhat uneasy.

Shengjing City was the largest city in Northeast China, with a population of about 200,000. However, due to the impact of the Russo-Japanese War, countless refugees flooded into Shengjing City, causing the population to surge to about 500,000. The influx of a large number of refugees made the city extremely crowded.

Moreover, these refugees had no food or money, and many chose to beg for a living, with many dying of starvation.

Early in the morning, Wu Xingquan sent his guards to various refugee gathering points in Shengjing City to recruit soldiers. According to Wu Haoxuan's suggestion, they should recruit as many strong and healthy men as possible, even if it meant giving them more resettlement fees. After all, in this era, military power was the most important. Without a powerful military, everything else was just talk.

With Wu Haoxuan's financial support, Wu Xingquan was ready to make a big move. Anyone who joined his army and was in good health would receive five silver dollars as a resettlement fee. After that, they would receive seven silver dollars per month as military pay. Such treatment was comparable to that of the Beiyang Army.

For the starving refugees, this was undoubtedly a lifeline. Therefore, many people signed up to join the army. However, the selection process was very strict, as required by Wu Haoxuan. They had to be in good health and free from opium addiction or other bad habits. They were also informed that they must abide by military discipline; otherwise, they would face various punishments, ranging from military law to execution.

In just one morning, Wu Xingquan recruited over ten thousand people. Upon hearing the news, Ma Tengxi, Feng Lingge, and Zhang Yuting also quickly sent people to recruit soldiers. After all, they were not unaware of the importance of the army; they were just a bit slower than Wu Xingquan.

Wu Haoxuan, along with James and Hu Zi, and protected by over ten of Wu Xingquan's guards, went to the North Gate to recruit soldiers. Wu Haoxuan wanted to build an army according to his own wishes, training them in a Western style. Once the results were seen, he would expand this training to all of Wu Xingquan's army.

Wu Haoxuan posted a notice at the North Gate, announcing the recruitment of soldiers. Anyone in good health and free from opium addiction or other bad habits could join the army. Once they signed up, they would receive ten silver dollars as a resettlement fee. Additionally, they would receive ten silver dollars per month as military pay, which was higher than that of the Beiyang Army and Wu Xingquan's army.

Such good conditions naturally attracted many people to join Wu Haoxuan's army. However, it wasn't that easy. Wu Haoxuan emphasized that physical fitness was essential. He placed two 30-pound stone locks at the recruitment site. Those who could lift the stone locks and walk 100 meters back and forth would pass the test. Those who could read would be given priority.

Due to poverty, the physical fitness of the people was generally poor, and finding literate people was even rarer.

"Do you really give ten silver dollars as a resettlement fee and ten silver dollars per month as military pay?" a young man in his early twenties asked. He was tall and well-built.

"Of course, I keep my word! However, after joining the army, you must abide by military discipline. Otherwise, you will face various punishments!" Wu Haoxuan said with a smile. In the current military, discipline was generally lacking, and expecting such an army to have much combat power was unrealistic.

"Alright! I'll sign up!" The young man hesitated for a moment and then said.

He immediately lifted the two stone locks and quickly walked forward. After walking 50 meters, he turned back.

"Good, you've passed the test. Sign the contract and go collect your resettlement fee! Tomorrow at noon, report to General Wu's camp outside the city!" Wu Haoxuan said.

"Aren't you afraid I'll take the money and run?" the young man said.

"Not at all, it's just ten silver dollars. Of course, the entire Fengtian Province is under our control now. Even if you want to run, you won't be able to!" Wu Haoxuan's smile remained, but his words were clear.

The young man nodded, signed the contract, and took the money and left.

The power of example is infinite. Once someone received the money, it immediately dispelled the doubts of others. More and more people signed up to take the test. Many passed, while others failed and left dejectedly.

"Wang Qian? Not a bad name. But he doesn't seem like an ordinary farmer!" Wu Haoxuan looked at the registration form and said to himself.

"Boss, how many people are we going to recruit this time?" James approached Wu Haoxuan, looking at him eagerly.

Wu Haoxuan had promised to make him at least a brigade commander. This time, the army Wu Haoxuan recruited would be under his command for military training.

"Initially, we plan to recruit over a thousand people!" Wu Haoxuan said.

"Only that many? There are still so many people! Although their physical fitness is poor, if we can provide them with proper nutrition, they will quickly become qualified soldiers!" James was anxious.

"Recruiting too many people at once, we won't be able to train them. I need to build a new-style army, completely Westernized. We'll start with over a thousand people, train them, and then expand to ten thousand. But the prerequisite is that each soldier must have the ability to be a squad leader!"

James thought for a moment and nodded. "Boss, your suggestion is correct. I will work hard to train these people into qualified soldiers and squad leaders in the shortest time possible!"

If a thousand people were all trained to be squad leaders, then with enough soldiers, these thousand would become ten thousand. After further training, the army's combat capability would be formed.

By extension, the number of troops would grow rapidly like a snowball.

Of course, an army isn't just about having people; it also needs sufficient weapons, ammunition, and supplies. The ammunition consumed in training alone is not a small amount. Additionally, the monthly military pay for a thousand soldiers, at the rate Wu Haoxuan offered, would be over ten thousand silver dollars. Adding the daily rations and uniforms, the cost would be substantial.

However, Wu Haoxuan was not short of money. His businesses in the United States could bring him millions of dollars in wealth each month, equivalent to tens of millions of silver dollars. As his businesses expanded, his profits would increase, and maintaining an army would be a small matter.

Of course, for other warlords and even the Qing government, they did not have the financial resources to support an army. This is why the Beiyang Army had only six divisions. Even with just six divisions, it was the most powerful military force in the country.

In just one day, Wu Haoxuan recruited over 1,500 people. He then stopped the recruitment. These 1,500 people were enough.

That night, Wu Haoxuan and James discussed the army's organization. James suggested adopting an American-style army structure, but Wu Haoxuan rejected it. At that time, the U.S. Army had only about 100,000 men, and their combat effectiveness was poor.

Wu Haoxuan, based on the German Army's structure and his own understanding, formulated his army's organization.

An infantry squad consisted of 14 people, including a squad leader, two machine gunners, and a sniper. The rifles used were the M1903 rifles produced by his own armory, and the snipers used a sniper rifle developed from the M1903. The machine gunners used the M1904 light machine gun.

Three infantry squads formed a platoon, along with the platoon leader, deputy platoon leader, communicator, medic, and a fire support group equipped with one M1904 heavy machine gun and a 60mm light mortar. The entire platoon consisted of 54 people.

Three platoons, along with the company headquarters and a fire support group equipped with two 80mm medium mortars, as well as cooks and other support units, formed a company of over 200 people.